In the landscape of the conservative-leaning Supreme Court, red-state anti-abortionist activists across the country are attacking abortion rights in their own states. Ohio, for instance, just passed a bill that bans abortion in the presence of a fetal heartbeat at six weeks, the most restrictive anti-abortion bill on record. So-called "heartbeat" bills have already been passed in four states, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, and Ohio. These early-term anti-abortion bills are being advanced in legislatures of eleven more states by conservative activists. With the Kavanaugh confirmation to the Supreme Court, conservatives see this as a long-awaited opportunity to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion across the country.

This is absolutely heartbreaking news. Women in many states now have to travel outside their own state to have access to legal abortion - sometimes as far as two states away. This is due both to restrictive laws and to a scarcity of abortion providers in their own state. For instance, Missouri has only one clinic in the entire state. Restrictions and bans on abortion create an enormous and unjust burden on women, and they are especially hard on women in families with modest means.

ACTION: Tell lawmakers that we must protect the right across the U.S. to legal abortion.

It’s the weekend, but please call and leave voicemail for our MOCs on this important issue, so that your opinion will be logged when MOC offices open on Monday. When you leave voicemail, you'll want to include your name and city/zip in your message so you'll be identified as a constituent.

Senator Patty Murray: DC - 202-224-2621 Seattle - 206-553-5545

Senator Maria Cantwell: DC - 202-224-3441 Seattle - 206-220-6400

Rep. Pramila Jayapal: DC - 202-225-3106 Seattle - 206-674-0040

Rep. Adam Smith: DC - 202-225-8901 Renton - 425-793-5180

SCRIPT:

“Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent from [CITY, ZIP]. I am extremely concerned about the proliferation of state-level laws making early abortions illegal. We can't afford to allow conservative legislatures to prevent women from accessing their reproductive rights. I'm particularly concerned about the threat this represents to the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in Roe vs. Wade. Please do everything you can to fight these restrictions. Thank you."

DON'T FORGET

SEATTLE INDIVISIBLE MEETING

At the Washington State Labor Council in the Central District, 321 16th Avenue. This meeting venue is wheelchair-accessible, and can be reached by King County Metro buses 7, 14, 27, and 106, and the First Hill Streetcar.